
Whether you're the proverbial city mouse or country mouse, life in Cincinnati offers the best of both worlds. Cincinnati itself has the expansive shopping, entertainment, and cultural options of a sophisticated urban setting, but it's just minutes away from the charm, comfort, and laid-back pace of small towns.
With the holidays approaching, why not take a break from the big-city hustle and bustle? Spend a fun yet relaxing day supporting small businesses with a holiday shopping trip to nearby Augusta, KY.
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When your day begins on a river ferry, you know it's bound to be special. Seven days a week, the Jenny Ann transports passengers and vehicles from Boude's Landing to Augusta and back. Pedestrians travel for free, while the one-way fee for vehicles is only $5. Ferry service runs 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., with the last outbound Augusta ferry departing at 7:45 p.m. Call the Transportation Authority at 606.756.3291 to confirm sailing times.
314 Main St., Augusta, KY 41002
Yes, Glitter Me Pink is committed to the popular color mentioned in the name. But you'll find contemporary clothing in a wide range of styles and colors in this delightful boutique located in the owner's actual home. Sign up for the VIP club to receive advance notice of sales, special events, and other exciting news. Large, colorful photos make it easy to shop the online store for shipping directly to your home or your recipient's.
109 Main St., Augusta, KY 41002
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Classic Americana is alive and well at the Augusta General Store. This quaint shop is a throwback to the classic country stores filled with antiques, furniture, and home decor accessories. Candles, picture frames, wall hangings, and other giftables have a rustic look that would have a welcome place in nearly any home. Don't leave without picking up one of the iconic homemade pies from the on-site restaurants. The Augusta General Store is open 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily, with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
208 Main St., Augusta, KY 41002
What's in a name? At Nina's Shop, it refers to the store's owner, who also happens to be the mother of George Clooney, award-winning actor and Augusta's favorite son. It's easy to spend hours browsing the celebrity memorabilia, unique collectibles, and jewelry handmade by Nina herself. Be sure to commemorate your visit by having a picture taken alongside Nina. Hours are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.
129 Main St., Augusta, KY 41002
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During the sometimes dreary end-of-year days, flowers and plants provide an instant ray of sunshine. The floral designers at Amy's Blue Daisy will transform your wishes into spectacular arrangements for anyone on your list, including yourself. If you want a feast for the stomach instead of the eyes, Amy's features gift baskets filled with gourmet fruit or junk food to cover both ends of the spectrum. Supplement a bouquet or basket with candles, balloons, stuffed animals or one of the many available gift items. Hours are 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 9:30 a.m. - noon Wednesday and Saturday. Shop their convenient website 24/7 for local and worldwide shipping.
403 Heather Renee French Blvd, Augusta, KY 41002
You'll find a little bit of everything in this hardware store that's so much more, including work clothing and apparel, handtools, and electronics. The store also carries a large selection of cookware, small kitchen appliances, and bakeware for the amateur chef or baker on your list. Make a mental note that Bradford's also sells furniture, both indoors and out, as well as appliances if you have a need for your home in the future. Bradford's is currently open Monday - Saturday 8 .m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday noon - 4 p.m.
120 Main St., Augusta, KY 41002
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Power shopping requires sustenance. Take a midday break to refuel at the Augusta Pub, where you can enjoy comfort food favorites such as chicken wings, fish and chips, and Philly cheesesteak. The family-friendly pub also has a kids' menu with free refills on non-alcoholic drinks. Relax in comfort on the heated patio, or choose curbside carryout. Cross off another name on your holiday list when you purchase a gift card. Hours are 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, and noon - 9 p.m. Saturday.
321 W. Riverside Dr., Augusta, KY 41002
When choosing a name, the owners of Small Town Gift Shop decided to pass on cutesy puns and just go with truth in advertising. The shop features one-of-a-kind craft items that make great gifts for all ages. Craft supplies are available so you can express your own creativity. Stop in the year-round Christmas room for some new decorations to add to your collection of favorites. Hours are 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.
Midwest native John Mellencamp famously sang about the joys of a small town in one of his hit songs. What do you find most appealing about small towns around Cincinnati?

Here at Cutler Real Estate, we love food in every form! More specifically, we love the diverse groceries and authentic items found in the unique purveyor shops that stock everything from meat and cheese to exotic spices and sauces. With a calendar full of meals to fill, we want our shopping list to be as tasty as possible.
If you're looking to introduce new cultures and cuisines into your diet, you've come to the right place. On this list, you'll find twelve of the finest specialty and gourmet food shops around Northeast Ohio that deliver the world's flavor right into your shopping cart.
An homage to fromage, Fromage du Monde welcomes Canton residents into a world of cheese. This artisan cheese house is ready to serve you selections of the finest cheeses sourced from regions around the globe. Sample a few favorites with their cheese flight, pair the best cheeses and meats on their charcuterie board, or order up a cheese panini and cup of homemade soup for lunch. Interested in becoming a cheese connoisseur? They'll gladly teach you how to "speak cheese."
While we love a good cappuccino, we also love to curl up with a book and a nice cup of tea on a cold, wintery Ohio day. What better place to stock up on everything tea than the Ohio Tea Company? Opened in November 2015 by Terry Gabet, Ohio Tea Company is your source for loose-leaf teas ranging from favorites like Earl Grey and English Breakfast varieties, to herbal blends like Berry Blues and Lemon Ginger. Don't forget to stock up on tea filters and an infuser to start enjoying tea on a grand scale.
The right oils can lend remarkable flavor to any dish. At The Olive Tap in Medina, you have the opportunity to taste the difference and experience the quality that has earned the freshest olive oils and balsamic vinegars industry acclaim. They carry a selection of gourmet specialty foods like pastas, tapenades, olives, sauces, salsas, and jams to help you curate a meal precisely to your desired taste. Hoping to test out a few new recipes? The folks at The Olive Tap will be happy to suggest tasty dinners you can prepare with their oils.
3441 Tuttle Road Ste 103, Shaker Heights
Spice up your pantry while supporting your local Northeast Ohio nonprofits by shopping at Spice For Life. Spices, herbs, salts, peppercorns, chili peppers, and seasoning blends are all on deck at this stall within the Van Aken District Market Hall. While their products will make your plate a tastier place, their kindness makes our world a better place too. All of their profits are donated to various nonprofit organizations throughout the area that support human trafficking victims and prevent future instances of this prevalent problem in Ohio.
You don't need to travel across the Atlantic Ocean for the best European foods — simply head to the west side of I-71 in Brunswick and stop at European Specialty Food Market. Check off your entire grocery list as you shop their imports of meat, fish, cheese, pastries, sweets, and alcoholic beverages. Get a jar of borsch, just like grandma used to make. Cook up a fresh smoked sausage from Hungary, kielbasa from Poland, or weisswurst from Germany. Wash it all down with French wine or a Belgian beer, and you'll be overjoyed that you can eat so well without a passport.
Heinen's Grocery Store is a Cleveland institution. Since the 1920s, this butcher shop turned grocery store has been the one-stop-shop for everything you need to fill your refrigerator and pantry. Among their inventory of fresh, frozen, and packaged foods, Heinen's also carries local favorites from the state in nearly every department. Experience Ohio the way it was meant to be tasted by loading your shopping cart up with produce, cheeses, meats, and pastries from local farms, butcheries, and bakeries.
A hidden gem that you must unwrap, Mel's Sweet Shop lets you indulge your confectionary cravings. Once known as Penny's Sweet Supplies, Mel's is a cake decorating and baking supply store full of delicious goodies. They'll make sure you're stocked with the molds, frosting, fondant, and candy you need to make any sweet treat. Keep an eye on their calendar, too — they host candy making and cake decorating classes throughout the year. Just do us a favor and save a bite for us.
25650 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights
Say hola to the vibrant tastes of Latin America at Las Americas Latin Market & Restaurant. This specialty grocery store is full of flavor and ready to give your meals a little Latin flair. If you're new to Latin foods, you're in luck! Las Americas is also a restaurant. They serve up delicious Mexican and Peruvian cuisine so you can sample, savor, and plan your next meal.
Authentic South Asian groceries and cuisine are available at Sunny's Asian Food. This family-owned establishment lures you in with their sweet complimentary chai and aromas that tempt you to venture over to their kitchen in the back of the store. Serving up homemade Indian foods all week, we dare you to taste an item off of their menu and try to leave empty-handed. Once you sample their authentic offerings on the all-you-can-eat buffet, you'll fill your hands with as many groceries as you can carry so you can make these South Asian staples at home.
Cheese and mustard — you need both in your refrigerator, and Old Brooklyn Cheese Company has them ready for you. Not only do they carry local, domestic, and imported cheeses, but they also produce their own raw milk cheeses using milk from Hartzler Family Dairy in Wooster. The Old Brooklyn Cheese Company cheeses are only rivaled by their handmade mustards — or as they like to call them, Cleveland Caviar. Grab both, get home, and savor the flavor of Cleveland's finest cheese and mustard pairings.
8064 Columbia Road, Olmsted Falls
We don't have just one reason why we love Grand Pacific Popcorn Company — we have nearly 40! #1: Cheddar Pretzel Ale. #2: Bulldog Blend. #3: Red Cinnamon. Better yet, why don't you pay a visit to their shop in the Grand Pacific Junction and sample their savory, sweet, and seasonal flavors. While you're there, pick up some old-fashioned candy and soda to keep your sweet tooth satisfied all year long.
14492 Pearl Road, Strongsville
Jerky, smokies, sauces, and snacks — the best of the best are available at Jerky -n- Spice. They've got palate-pleasing variations of beef jerky, turkey jerky, exotic game smokies, seasonings, salsas, condiments, and sauces that cater to every taste imaginable. Where else in Ohio can you taste kangaroo, ostrich, alligator, buffalo, and antelope in the same shop? If you'd like to make your own sausage or jerky at home, they'll provide you with a kit and give you a few tips.
Where's your go-to destination for specialty and gourmet foods around Northeast Ohio? Let us know in the comments!
Here at Cutler Real Estate, we are very passionate about supporting the work of talented artists and makers, whether that's through visiting a neighborhood flea market or shopping at a local small business. And with the holidays coming up, we can't wait to scour the city for locally made gifts to give our loved ones!
This year, support both local businesses and local makers in one fell swoop at these
With the ease of online shopping, it may be tempting to throw your entire holiday shopping list into your Amazon shopping cart and call it a night. But what if we told you that Cleveland is home to a bunch of amazing boutiques and shops where you could find unique, handmade gifts — without leaving the comfort of your hometown? By #ShoppingLocal, you can support makers and small businesses from our own backyard, all while purchasing original items that you can't find in a big department store. On this list, you'll find trendy boutiques, pet shops, candle companies and more — so that you can find the perfect gifts for your friends and family members. Feel good about your holiday shopping knowing that you've supported a small business this season!